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Why First United Methodist Church??
I love Marion First for a lot of reasons. First of all, I came here with no faith and have been blessed by a church that started it in me. Second, Pastor Mike’s preaching. It’s always entertaining and easy to relate to. Lastly, there are so many opportunities here to minister, or be ministered to.
Leandra Martins
When I first began to look for “the right church for me” I realized it would be slightly more difficult than I had anticipated. For me finding a church where I belong was so much more than just attending services every Sunday. I wanted it to be a place I truly felt safe, a place where I felt I could expand and really make a difference. The moment I first attended FUMC in Marion I just knew it would someday be my home. God must have seen me coming and inside I’m sure I heard him tell him “This is where you belong.”
God has touched my life in many ways over the last year and I feel I’m finally ready to grow in my relationship with him. To say that I am excited to do this here at FUMC is an understatement!! There are endless opportunities and I can’t wait to discover what the lord has chosen for me. So thank you for making this the easiest decision I’ve ever made and I’m looking forward to serving God while getting to know my family here at FUMC.
Amanda Homsey
As our two sons grew older, Marion First was there for them. For our oldest, Erik, Stan Wierson identified him as a leader and invited him to be a camp counselor for Summer Games. This was a turning point in Erik’s personal and spiritual life. For our “special” son, JR, the Church has always been friendly and accepting whether it was Marilyn Rech, who invited him to be in a cantata and gave him lines, or Mary Lee Parks, who was thrilled to have JR play the hand chimes, or Karen Nelson who included him in Youth Group and invited him to go to Silver Dollar City, or the many people who greet him with “Hi, JR,” whenever he is in Church.
This is a reflection of the past but life continues on and changes occur. JR is in a group home in Northeast Cedar Rapids, Erik is married and living in Denver, Colorado, and we are retired and living in Fairfax, and yet we continue to make the drive to Marion First. Whether it is on Thursday mornings when Steve drives over for Men’s Bible Study or Wednesday evenings or Tuesday noon when Deb has Women’s Circle, we pass at least 6 Methodist Churches within a half mile of First Avenue and another half dozen that we could get to more quickly. Yet we continue to make the drive, WHY?
True, Marion First is the only Church Deb has known and we have many friends who have helped our family along the way, but many of these people have since moved on. So what can it be that keeps us coming back?
A main draw is obviously the people. As you can tell by the previous paragraphs, people have always been a critical factor in our attendance. And yet, the most important piece that is critical for us is Marion First’s commitment to being Christ’s body on earth. We believe strongly what the Church does outside its four walls, whether it’s Marion Cares, Mission of Hope, mission trips to other communities, etc., is more important than what it does inside those same walls. And we are dedicated to being a part of that mission.
Steve and Deb Streff
When we moved to Marion in 2008, we wanted to find a church where we could meet others from the community, raise our family in the Christian faith, and strengthen our own spirituality. We also wanted a church that was open and accepting of all types of people. From the first time we tried FUMC, we knew it was the right fit for us! We immediately felt welcomed by everyone in the congregation, and even before we officially became members we were included and welcomed into the church’s ministries, including small groups, circles and men’s groups, and church events.
The impact that FUMC has had on both the local community as well as nationally and abroad has continued to impress and inspire us. We have been challenged to think beyond ourselves and give of our time and talents in numerous ways, from making sandwiches for the Feeding Lunches to Youth program, helping organize a church Talent Show, or serving communion to homebound members of the congregation. We look forward to many more years of personal growth within the FUMC family, and are excited for the future of this church!
~~Erin, Paul & Lauren Wittkowski
JP, Zach & Scott
First United Methodist Church
1298 Seventh Avenue
Marion, Iowa 52302
(319) 377-4856